Closure Device for Reclosable Bag

ABSTRACT

A reclosable bag comprising a first bag wall and a second bag wall joined along a first side, a second side, and a bottom of the reclosable bag. The reclosable bag having a top that is generally open to allow contents to be placed therein. The reclosable bag has a first closure which further comprises a first male closure element and a first female closure element. The first male closure element and the first female closure element are disposed in an opposing configuration on the first bag wall and the second bag wall. The first male closure element has a first hook portion and a second hook portion. 
     The reclosable bag has a second closure which further comprises a second male closure element and a second female closure element. The second male closure element and the second female closure element are disposed in an opposing configuration on the first bag wall and the second bag wall. The second male closure element has a third hook portion and a fourth hook portion. 
     The first closure defines a first interior opening force and a first exterior opening force. The second closure defines a second interior opening force and a second exterior opening force. The second exterior opening force is not equal to the second interior opening force.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to improved closures for use with reclosable bags. Particularly, the present invention relates to closure mechanisms with male and female closure elements.

2. Description of the Related Art

Reclosable plastic bags are available in a variety of different sizes and configurations. Most commonly, reclosable plastic bags have one or more pairs of opposing, interlocking closures near the top opening of the reclosable bag. The closure may generally be opened and closed many times and are typically designed to ensure that the contents of the reclosable plastic bag are securely contained within the bag when the opposing closures are mutually engaged.

The closures of reclosable bags can be opened and closed in a number of different ways. For example, a slider or zipper device can be incorporated into the bag design to facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the opposing closures. However, many reclosable bags have closures that are designed to be opened by physically pulling the closures apart. The present invention provides improved closure profiles for reclosable bags which are physically disengaged by pulling the closures apart and engaged by pressing the corresponding closure profiles together.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,565,147 discloses a plastic bag having male and female resealable interlocking elements integrally incorporated for selectively opening and closing the top of the bag. The bag further includes a pair of stiffener ribs formed integrally with the bag and disposed below the resealable elements to provide increased rigidity along an open end of the bag to prevent inadvertent separation of the elements.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,329 discloses a reclosable bag having an assembly that includes two male arrow-shaped profiles extending from a first base. Corresponding first and second female members are provided to engage the two male arrow-shaped profiles. Each male arrow-shaped profile includes first and second prongs extending away from the male arrow-shaped profiles. The male arrow-shaped profiles are both symmetrical along a longitudinal center-line of the male arrow-shaped profiles with both prongs of the second male arrow-shaped profile being longer than the prongs of the first arrow-shaped profile.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,167,597 discloses a plastic bag with two parallel closure mechanisms, each closure mechanism featuring respective male and female closure elements. The disclosed male closure elements are identical to one another, both male closure element being asymmetrical and adapted to engage the corresponding female closure element.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,410,298 discloses several embodiments of a reclosable plastic bag with generally parallel closures. Each closure is comprised of respective male and female elements designed to engage each other when the respective closures are pressed together. Each female element is both symmetric and identical in shape to other female element. The first of the two male members features two hook portions for engaging the two extending arms of the first female member. The second male member is asymmetrical and has only one hook portion and therefore engages only one of the two arms of the second female member.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention encompasses various embodiments of a reclosable plastic bag including reclosable profiles for plastic bags.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a reclosable bag is comprised of a first bag wall and a second bag wall. The first bag wall and the second bag wall are joined along a first side, a second side, and a bottom of the reclosable bag. A top of the reclosable bag is generally open to allow contents to be placed within the reclosable bag. A first closure comprises a first male element and a first female element. The first male element and the first female element are disposed in an opposing configuration on interior surfaces of the bag walls. The first male element has a first hook portion and a second hook portion. A second closure comprises a second male element and a second female element. The second male element and the second female element are disposed in an opposing configuration on interior surfaces of the bag walls. The second male element has a third hook portion and a fourth hook portion. The second closure has an exterior opening force which is different than an interior opening of the second closure.

Additional embodiments of the present invention may include the first exterior opening force being substantially the same as the first interior opening force and/or the second exterior opening force being less than the second interior opening force. Additionally, in some embodiments the first hook portion and the second hook portion may have substantially identical lengths while the third hook portion and fourth hook portion may have different lengths. In some embodiments, the first male closure may be substantially symmetrical or asymmetrical and the second male closure element may be substantially symmetrical or asymmetrical. Additionally, the first female closure may be substantially symmetrical or asymmetrical and the second female closure element may be substantially symmetrical or asymmetrical.

It is contemplated that the present invention may be utilized in ways that are not fully described or set forth herein. The present invention is intended to encompass these additional uses to the extent such uses are not contradicted by the appended claims. Therefore, the present invention should be given the broadest reasonable interpretation in view of the present disclosure, the accompanying figures, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED DRAWINGS

A full and complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the detailed description of the present invention and preferred embodiment when viewed with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings can be briefly described as follows.

FIG. 1 provides an elevation view of a reclosable bag as contemplated by one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 provides an elevation, cross-sectional view of a reclosable bag according to one embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the cross-sectional profile of the first and second closures.

FIG. 3 provides an elevation, cross-sectional view of a reclosable bag according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 provides a diagram to illustrate the differences between an exterior opening force and an interior opening force as used herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure illustrates one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention. It is not intended to provide an illustration or encompass all embodiments contemplated by the present invention. In view of the disclosure of the present invention contained herein, a person having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that innumerable modifications and insubstantial changes may be incorporated or otherwise included within the present invention without diverging from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the present invention is not limited to those embodiments disclosed herein. The appended claims are intended to more fully and accurately encompass the invention to the fullest extent possible, but it is fully appreciated that certain limitations on the use of particular terms is not intended to conclusively limit the scope of protection.

FIG. 1 depicts an elevation view of a reclosable bag 100. The reclosable bag 100 is comprised of a first bag wall 102 and a second bag wall 104 which are joined along a first side 106, a second side 108, and the bottom 110. The top 112 defined by the respective first and second bag walls 102, 104 being generally open. A first closure 120 is provided which extends from the first side 106 to the second side 108 of the reclosable bag 100. The first closure 120 is disposed on the interior surfaces of the first bag wall 102 and the second bag wall 104. A second closure 122 is provided below the first closure 120, closer to the bottom of the reclosable bag 100. The second closure 122 is also disposed on the interior surfaces of the first bag wall 102 and the second bag wall 104. The profile of the first closure 120 and second closure 122 according to one embodiment of the present invention can be seen in more detail in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 provides an elevation view of the profiles of the first closure 120 and the second closure 122 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The first closure 120 is comprised of two distinct elements, a first male closure element 200 and a first female closure element 220. The first male closure element 200 and the first female closure element 220 are adapted to mutually engage one another when pressed together. The second closure 122 is also comprised of two distinct elements, a second male closure element 240 and a second female closure element 260. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the first male closure element 200 and the second female closure element 260 are disposed on an interior surface of the first bag wall 102 while the first female closure element 220 and the second male closure element 240 are disposed on an interior surface of the second bag wall 104. In other embodiments of the present invention, it is contemplated that both the first and second male closure elements 200, 240 may be disposed upon the interior surface of the first bag wall 102 while the first and second female closure elements 220, 260 may be disposed on the interior surface of the second bag wall 104.

In the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 2, the first and second female closure elements 220, 260 of the present invention are both symmetrical across center-lines 290, 292 of the respective first and second closures 120, 122. Furthermore, in the depicted embodiment, the first and second female closure elements are identical to one another in both shape and size. However, it is contemplated that certain embodiments of the present invention may include first and second female closure elements that are not symmetrical, are not identical in shape, and/or are not identical in size. One such alternative embodiment will be discussed herein with respect to FIG. 3.

Looking still at the embodiment of FIG. 2, the first female closure element 220 is comprised of a first arm 222 and a second arm 224 extending away from the second bag wall 104. The first arm 222 and the second arm 224 each curl inward at the respective distal end of each arm 222, 224. The distal portions of the respective first arm 222 and second arm 224 are designed to engage the first male closure element 200. The first male closure element 200, which extends in a generally perpendicular direction away from the first bag wall 102, has a first hook portion 202 to engage the first arm 222 of the first female closure element 220 and a second hook portion 204 to engage the second arm 224 of the first female closure element 220.

Like the first closure 120, the second closure 122 is comprised of a second female closure element 260 and a second male closure element 240. The second female closure element 260 is comprised of a third arm 262 and a fourth arm 264 extending away from the first bag wall 102. The third arm 262 and the fourth arm 244 each curl inward at the respective distal end of each arm 262, 264. The distal portions of the respective third arm 262 and fourth arm 264 are designed to engage the second male closure element 240. The second male closure element 240, which extends in a generally perpendicular direction away from the second bag wall 104, has a third hook portion 242 to engage the third arm 262 of the second female closure element 260 and a fourth hook portion 244 to engage the fourth arm 264 of the second female closure element 260.

The size and shape of the male closure elements 200, 240 can be chosen to provide desirable properties when disengaging from the respective female closure elements 220, 260. In particular, certain embodiments of the present invention the male hook portions 202, 204, 242, 244 provide desirable disengagement characteristics when used in combination with particular arrangements of the arms 222, 224, 262, 264 of the female closure elements 220, 260. Specifically, adjusting the shape and properties of the respective hook portions 202, 204, 242, 244 and arms 222, 224, 262, 264 can change the force required to disengage the respective closures 120, 122. Embodiments of the present invention are primarily concerned with symmetrical and asymmetrical elements for particular closures. As a general matter, the opening force of a particular closure that has asymmetrical elements is easier to open from the top rather than the bottom. On the other hand, a closure that has symmetrical elements requires, generally speaking, substantively the same force when opened from the top or bottom.

To understand the opening forces resulting from symmetrical and asymmetrical elements in more detail, FIG. 4 provides a general explanation in the context of the first closure 120. In FIG. 4, the first and second bag walls 102, 104 are shown with the first closure 120 in an engaged position. Arrow 400 points to the top or exterior of the reclosable bag while arrow 402 points to the interior of the reclosable bag. If a force is applied to pull the first and second bag walls 102, 104 apart at a point above the first closure 120 (as shown by arrow 410), the force is transferred along the first and second bag walls 102, 104 into the first closure 120 until the first closure 120 ultimately disengages. This force is referred to herein as the exterior opening force because the force is applied to the exterior side of the first closure 120. Similarly, a force applied to pull the first and second bag walls 102, 104 apart at a point below the first closure 120 (as shown by arrow 420) will ultimately result in disengagement of the first closure 120. This force is the referred to herein as the interior opening force.

Looking back at FIG. 2, the first closure 120 has a first male closure element 200 with symmetrical hook portions 202, 204 of equal length and a first female closure element 220 with symmetrical first and second arms 222, 224. Therefore, the exterior opening force of the first closure 120 is substantially the same as the interior opening force of the first closure 120. However, the second male closure element 240 of the second closure 122 is asymmetrical. In particular, the third hook portion 242 is substantially shorter than the fourth hook portion 244. At the same time, the second female closure element 260 is substantially symmetrical. As a result of the asymmetrical second male closure element 240, the third hook portion 242 does not engage the third arm 262 as securely as the fourth hook portion 244 engaged the fourth arm 264 when the two closures are pulled apart. Therefore, the second closure 122 has different exterior and interior opening forces, the exterior opening force less than the interior opening force. In light of the foregoing, it is also apparent that differential opening forces can be controlled in numerous ways including, but not limited to, modifying the relative shapes of the hook portions; changing the stiffness of the male closure elements and/or the hook portions extending therefrom; and/or changing the length of the hook portions. Furthermore, the design of the second female closure element may also be modified to provide similar results as described with respect to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the first closure 120 is the same as the first closure 120 of the embodiment of FIG. 2. However, the embodiment of FIG. 3 features a second closure 122 which is comprised of a symmetrical second male closure element 340 and an asymmetrical second female closure element 360. In particular, the symmetrical second male closure element 340 has a third hook portion 342 that is generally symmetric with the fourth hook portion 344. Additionally, the second female closure element 360 is asymmetrical, with the third arm 362 having less of a curvature at the distal end than the fourth arm 364. This embodiment provides a similar effect as the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, with the exterior opening force of the second closure being less than the interior opening force of the second closure.

As previously noted, the specific embodiments depicted herein are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Indeed, it is contemplated that any number of different embodiments may be utilized without diverging from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to more fully encompass the full scope of the present invention. 

1. A reclosable bag comprising: a first bag wall and a second bag wall joined along a first side, a second side, and a bottom of the reclosable bag, a top of the reclosable bag being generally open to allow contents to be placed therein, a first closure, the first closure comprising a first male closure element and a first female closure element, the first male closure element and the first female closure element disposed in an opposing configuration on the first bag wall and the second bag wall, the first male closure element having a first hook portion and a second hook portion, a second closure, the second closure comprising a second male closure element and a second female closure element, the second male closure element and the second female closure element disposed in an opposing configuration on the first bag wall and the second bag wall, the second male closure element having a third hook portion and a fourth hook portion, and the first closure defining a first interior opening force and a first exterior opening force, the second closure defining a second interior opening force and a second exterior opening force, and wherein the second exterior opening force is not equal to the second interior opening force.
 2. The reclosable bag of claim 1, further comprising: the first exterior opening force being substantially the same as the first interior opening force.
 3. The reclosable bag of claim 1, further comprising: the second exterior opening force being less than the second interior opening force.
 4. The reclosable bag of claim 3, further comprising: the first exterior opening force being substantially the same as the first interior opening force.
 5. The reclosable bag of claim 1, further comprising: the first hook portion of the first male closure element and the second hook portion of the first male closure element having substantially the same length, and the third hook portion of the second male closure element and the fourth hook portion of the second male closure element having different lengths.
 6. The reclosable bag of claim 5, further comprising: the first male closure element being substantially symmetrical, the second male closure element being substantially asymmetrical.
 7. The reclosable bag of claim 6, further comprising: the first female closure element being substantially symmetrical, and the second female closure element being substantially symmetrical.
 8. The reclosable bag of claim 1, further comprising: the second female element being asymmetrical.
 9. The reclosable bag of claim 8, further comprising: the first female closure element being substantially symmetrical.
 10. The reclosable bag of claim 9, further comprising: the first male closure element being substantially symmetrical.
 11. The reclosable bag of claim 10, further comprising: the second male closure element being substantially symmetrical. 